Any questions for SE?

[GereOfRemora]

Re: Any questions for SE?

Video Capture or screenshot programs do not alter the way you play the game, so no. They don't violate the TOS.

The Tos doesn't say they have to alter the game, it is in fact very vague on the subject.

[Mhurron]

Re: Any questions for SE?

The Tos doesn't say they have to alter the game, it is in fact very vague on the subject.

We would like to take this time to remind our players that the use of any third-party tools to change or modify the game in any way is strictly prohibited in the PlayOnline environment. We will continue to take any necessary actions against those individuals that we have confirmed to have used such tools.

I don't suppose you could exercise a little common sense either. The ToS is the PlayOnline and Final Fantasy XI ToS. It sort of stands to reason that it only applies to things that directly effect PlayOnline and Final Fantasy XI.

[Hamlet]

Re: Any questions for SE?

It sort of stands to reason that it only applies to things that directly effect PlayOnline and Final Fantasy XI.

It also stands to reason that running a pure windower that does nothing else shouldn't be against the TOS, because it's not adveresely affecting the game. And I should be able to shoot heroin whenever I want as long as I'm not hurting anyone else.

[Mhurron]

Re: Any questions for SE?

It also stands to reason that running a pure windower that does nothing else shouldn't be against the TOS,

It doesn't matter what you think should or shouldn't be against the TOS, the windower is.

[Hamlet]

Re: Any questions for SE?

It doesn't matter what you think should or shouldn't be against the TOS, the windower is.

That's true, but it's kind of my point. In a very strict reading of the TOS, FRAPS could be seen as "modyfing the game in any way", and if we're not going to be completely strict, then why wouldn't windower be allowed (especially considering the vast number of PC users that use it)

[Mhurron]

Re: Any questions for SE?

That's true, but it's kind of my point. In a very strict reading of the TOS, FRAPS could be seen as "modyfing the game in any way"

How? It saves the content of the video cards buffer to a file. The windower changes how FFXI operates.

If fraps is against the ToS, so is your firewall (alters packets), Windows (runs multiple 3rd party apps), every router between you and SE's servers (alters packets) and your monitor (displays the same stuff fraps saves to a file). None of them are because they are outside the scope of POL and FFXI's operations. Just like the laws in the US have no barring on what someone does in Argentina, they sure as hell apply when your in the US.

[Hamlet]

Re: Any questions for SE?

Well, it alters what you can do with the game. The way the game comes packaged, you can't take a video of it. I'm not saying FRAPS is against the TOS, especially considering they had that video contest awhile back, but if you wanted to interpret FRAPS being against the TOS, you could.

I guess it depends on what your definition of "is" is.

[Feba]

Re: Any questions for SE?

I'm not entirely sure, but i'm pretty sure Windower actually effects DirectX and not FFXI, so then it's fine eh?



Ignoring the plugin features, although the plugins don't modify the game either.. They simply read memory and display it on your screen, with the exceptions of DrawDistance and IME, which were not originally from windower, and one of which is horribly broken currently.

[Mhurron]

Re: Any questions for SE?

I'm not entirely sure, but i'm pretty sure Windower actually effects DirectX and not FFXI, so then it's fine eh?

A- It alters the environment FFXI runs in. DirectX will still be reporting correctly that it is or is not full screen and has focus or not, the windower intercepts and alters that value, allowing you to run the game in an unintended manner.
B - Fraps changes nothing.

The way the game comes packaged

Your computer, PS2 or XBox360 is against the ToS then. You can't run it at all the way its packaged.

[Hamlet]

Re: Any questions for SE?

Your computer, PS2 or XBox360 is against the ToS then. You can't run it at all the way its packaged.

No, I'm saying it alters what you can do with the game. It gives you a capability with the game that did not come with the game itself. It doesn't alter the mechanics of the game, but it does alter the game, in a way. It depends on how you define "alter in any way".

[Murphie]

Re: Any questions for SE?

It alters what you can do with your PC, not with the game. Though I suppose the same argument can be applied to Windower (although it's not really the same thing, as one affects the game directly, and the other indirectly).

The difference between FRAPS and the Windower is that one changes the way the game works on your PC. The other doesn't.

[Feba]

Re: Any questions for SE?

Yes, as vague as TOS is, pretty much everything including your OS is thirdparty software. Yes, the TOS is more of a "meaning, not letter of the law" thing. Yes, the TOS is entirely up to the GM reading it at the time.


Fraps does not just take a fullscreen picture or video, it actively focuses on things which are producing images, such as a media player or video game. It could be said to have an effect on ffxi just as windower does.


Anyway, they're both entirely harmless programs, which give no advantage over other players by themselves. There's no reason to not have a Windowing capability for FFXI, except SE's shitty programming. It wouldn't take SE much extra effort, or give PC users any real advantage.

Hell, if SE was really lazy, they could just steal Archbell's code.

[Hamlet]

Re: Any questions for SE?

If SE were to have it's own windower capability built in, wouldn't it allow them better control over what it can do?

[Matera]

Re: Any questions for SE?

Q: News sources say that you plan on making a sequel to FFXI. If this is true, would we be able to transfer our current characters?

There y'are.

[Feba]

Re: Any questions for SE?

Matera, SE already officially denounced that.